GMO Ordinance and Resolution, Province of Bohol

Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF BOHOL
City of Tagbilaran

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN

EXCERPT FROM THE RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN OF BOHOL HELD AT THE SENATOR BENIGNO S. AQUINO, JR. SESSION HALL, NEW CAPITOL COMPLEX, TAGBILARAN CITY, ON JUNE 16, 2003.

PRESENT:

Hon. Julius Caesar F. Herrera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provincial Governor
Presiding officer
Hon. Dionisio D. Balite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Board Member
Hon. Eufrasio M. Mascariñas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Jose E. Veloso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Godofredo O. Tirol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Amalia R. Tirol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Felix R. Uy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Tomas D. Abapo, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Ester Corazon J. Galbreath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Estanislao S. Camacho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Jesus Yves B. Yu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCL
Hon. Urbano H. Lagunay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCL
Hon. Frances Bobbit R. Cajes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member, (SK)

ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS:

Hon. Concepcion O. Lim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member
Hon. Renato O. Lim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Member, (ABC)


RESOLUTION NO. 2003-235

DECLARING THE PROVINCE OF BOHOL TO BE GMO-FREE OF FREE FROM GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS.

(Authored by Vice Governor Julius Caesar F. Herrera
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture)
(Sponsored by Motion En Masse)

“ WHEREAS, genetic engineering is the process of transferring genes from one organism to another, sometimes from one completely different species to another, producing new transgenic product; and characteristics from bacteria, viruses, and fish have been transferred to certain crops such as soybeans, corn, cotton, and tomatoes;

“WHEREAS, the plant, animal or microorganism produced through genetic engineering is called genetically-engineered or modified organisms, popularly known as GMOs;

“WHEREAS, the issue behind GMOs has again hugged the headlines of national papers and scientists constinue to debate on its merits and demerits;

“WHEREAS, this August Body in 1999 passed the following relevant resolutions:
Resolution No. 99-621 Strongly supporting Senate Resolution No. 282, introduced by Sen. Gregorio Honasan, directing the Senate Committees on Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Food and Science and Technology, to conduct an inquiry, in-air-of legislation, into the reported field testing of genetically modified organisms including the possibility that they may have already entered the country, to determineadequacy of any safety measures that may have been adopted to prevent unnecessary accidents, mishaps and health impacts to the consuming public and the environment and for other purposes;
Resolution No. 99-622 Strongly supporting House Bill No. 7793 introduced by the Congressman Francis Joseph Escudero entitled, “An Act Requiring mandatory Labelling of genetically engineered food products and providing penalties for violations thereof”; and
Resolution No. 99-623 Requesting the Bohol Intiators for Sustainable Agriculture (BISAD), LGUs, and other agencies concerned to conduct a provincewide information and education campaign on GMOs in the province of Bohol;

“WHEREAS, their Excellencies Bishops Leopoldo S. Tumulak, DD and Christian Vincent Noel, DD jointly issues a relevant Pastoral Letter entitle, “The World and Our Future, Our Responsibility” in which, referring specifically to GMOs, they said, “What then are the possible effects of these kind of foods on our health? Moreover, what are the effects of genetic engineering on our environment created by God? Is this the will of the Lord? Certainly not!”

“WHEREAS, while scientists, of opposing stances for or againsts, are still debating on the issue, the best course of action is always one guided by the virtue of prudence wherein on the basis “precautionary principle”we cannot put at risk the health of our people nor gamble on the soundness of our environment since it is the main asset of our province as the country’s prime eco-cultural tourism destination;

“WHERFORE, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol in session duly assembled –

To declare the province of Bohol as GMO-free or free from genetically engineered of modified organisms.

“RESOLVED FURTHER, that for purposes of safeguarding the health of Boholanos and the environment of Bohol, an accompanying regulatory ordinance shall be passed by this Body;

“Let copies hereof be furnished to all sectors concerned, particularly the general public for their guidance and appreciation.

“APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.”

- - -

I hereby certify to the correctness of the above-quoted Resolution.



(signed)
BONIFACIO M. QUIROG, JR.
SP Secretary



ATTESTED:


(signed)
Atty. JULIUS CAESAR F. HERRERA
Vice Governor
(Presiding Officer)


Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF BOHOL
City of Tagbilaran

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN


PROVINCIAL ORDINANCE NO. 2003-010


INSTITUTING STRINGENT MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF THE BOHOLANOS AND PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL SOUNDNESS OF THE PROVINCE OF BOHOL FROM THE POSSIBLE DISASTROUS ILL-EFFECTS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE.

(Authored by Vice Governor Julius Caesar F. Herrera,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture)
(Sponsored by : Mass Motion)

Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol, that:

“SECTION 1. Title. – This ordinance shall be known as “The Safeguard Against GMOs”;

“SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – The herein terms used shall have the following generally accepted definitions, thus;

a. Genetic Engineering – is the process of transferring genes from one organism to another, sometimes from one completely different species to another, producing a new transgenic product; for instance, characteristics from bacteria, viruses, and fish have been transferred to certain crops such as soybeans, corn, cotton, and tomatoes;

b. Genetically Modified Organisms – refers to the plant, animal or microorganism produced though genetic engineering, popularly known as GMOs;

c. Persons – refers to human individuals, groups or juridical entities;

“SECTION 3. Regulated Act – No person shall conduct any laboratory or field-testing or any activity whatsoever for the propagation of or experimentation related to GMOs of any plant, animal, or microorganism in any area within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Bohol without complying with all of these conditions, to wit;

a. That the resolution declaring Bohol as GMO-free has been lifted on the basis of moral and scientific certainty and satisfaction of all sectors in the province as to its safety and environmental soundness;

b. That a widespread multi-sectoral public hearing and education campaign in all municipalities throughout the province has been conducted;

c. That a favorable recommendation has been unanimously given by the Multi-sectoral GMO Monitoring Committee; and

d. That any person who intends to introduce GMOs into the province mush first show proof that he has subjected said GMO product to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and has successfully complied with such EIA procedures consistent with the existing national and local laws and regulations;

“SECTION 4. The Multi-sectoral GMO Monitoring Committee, Tasks and Composition. – There is hereby created a Multi-sectoral GMO Monitoring Committee, tasked to monitor the implementation of this ordinance and all issues related to GMOs including giving of unanimous favorable recommendation after the widespread public hearing and education campaign required under Section 3 hereof, with the following composition:

Three (3) Members from the Civil Society Sector, namely:

a) Bohol Nature Conservation Society (BONACONSO) or its authorized representative;
b) Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE) or its duly authorized representative;
c) Promotion of Church People’s Response or its duly authorized representative;

Three (3) Members from the Business Sector, namely:

a) Alturas Group of Companies or its authorized representative;
b) Bohol Quality Corporation or its authorized representative;
c) Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) or its authorized representative;

Three (3) representatives from the Provincial Government, namely:

a) The Provincial Governor or his authorized representative;
b) The Vice-Governor or his authorized representative;
c) Provincial Agriculturist or her authorized representative.

4.1 Authorization. All authorizations for the representatives of the members, if
any, shall be in formal writing and signed by the member himself or herself.

4.2 Chairmanship. The Committee shall be chaired by the Governor or the
Vice-Governor in the absence of the latter; but the Governor, or in his
absence the Vice-Governor, may designate anyone of the committee
members to preside over its meetings.

4.3 Meetings. In the absence of both the Governor and the Vice-Governor,
when a situation reasonably requires a meeting, a majority of the Committee
members may call a meeting, provided that, notice is properly given to all
the members at least twenty-four (24) hours before the schedule; and any
decision arrived at during these meetings shall be ratified by all the members
of the committee.

“SECTION 5. Penalty. – Any violation of this ordinance shall be meted with a fine of not more than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court; while juridical entities involved shall also be subject to closure.

“SECTION 6. Mandatory Publication and Information Dissemination. – This ordinance shall be published for three consecutive weeks in three local newspapers which have been in general circulation in the province for a t least one year chosen by raffle and copies of which shall also be furnished to all municipal mayors who shall cause their municipal barangay federation presidents to disseminate the same to all punong barangays who shall in turn disseminate the information during their assemblies. All sectors are enjoined to help in disseminating information about this ordinance.

“SECTION 7. Effectivity – This ordinance shall take effect upon approval hereof.

“APPROVED.”


- - -


(signed)

Atty. JULIUS CAESAR F. HERRERA
Vice Governor
(Presiding Officer)


ATTESTED:


(signed)
BONIFACIO M. QUIROG, JR.
SP Secretary



APPROVED:


(signed)
Atty. ERICO B. AUMENTADO
Governor

Date Signed: 5 August 2003